The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 2

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 3...

"This word, "I have learned," is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hardly the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature...It is an easy thing to be wicked but matters of religion must be learned."

"Good things are hard to come by."

"There are two pregnant reasons why there must be so much study and exercitation: 1. Because spiritual things are against our nature. 2. Because spiritual things are above our nature."

(In this section, Watson goes on to describe individually why faith, self-denial, self-examination, and self-reformation are all against our nature...he concluded with...)

"We must implore the Spirit to teacheth! Is.48:17"

"Highlights from Chapter 4...

"The main proposition I shall insist upon, is this, that a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. The doctrine of contentment is very superlative, and till we have learned this, we have not learned to be Christians."

"Contentment is a hard lesson. If our first parents clothed with innocency had not learned to be content, O how hard shall we find it, who are full of corruption!"

"To bid a natural man to live by faith, and when things go cross, be contented, you bid him do what he hath no skill in."

"To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an art which "flesh and blood hath not learned;" nay, many of God's own children, who excel in other duties of religion, when they come to contentment, how they do bungle. They have scarce become masters of this art."

"Highlights" from Chapter 5...

"1. We must be sensible of our condition and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God."

"2. We must pray. When any burden is upon the spirit, prayer gives vent, and it easeth the heart. "Hannah, having prayed, and wept, she went away, and was sad no more." "

"The difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in one we complain to God, in the other we complain of God."

"3. We must forego: ~ vexatious repining (murmuring) ~ uneven discomposure (being easily agitated, defeated, and confused) ~ childish despondency (uninformed depression)